2005 UK General Elections

Yup...the core issue for pakis in the UK..kashmir and iraq....

When Islam Breaks Down
Theodore Dalrymple

Oe sign of the increasing weakness of Islam’s hold over its nominal adherents in Britain—of which militancy is itself but another sign—is the throng of young Muslim men in prison. They will soon overtake the young men of Jamaican origin in their numbers and in the extent of their criminality. By contrast, young Sikhs and Hindus are almost completely absent from prison, so racism is not the explanation for such Muslim overrepresentation.

I took the Muslim vote for granted - but that has all changed

Roy Hattersley returns to his old constituency and finds a mood of defiance

Respect is what the Muslim community - more confident than ever before - demands. They are not sure that it is available within the present political system. And they are certain that the west`s war on terror has made its achievement far less likely.

Dr Naseem - a retired general practitioner, chairman of Birmingham Central Mosque and Respect candidate for Perry Barr - believes the attack on the New York trade centre was orchestrated by the CIA. Dawn, the mosque`s newsletter (distributed to the 4,000 worshippers who attend prayers each weekend) publishes what he regards as evidence to support that fantasy.

I hope Tony blair remains the PM for a while. Or atleast the Tories come back to power soon. About time another country other than USA needs to stand up against the Islamic fundamentalism...

Thanks,
Avkrishna

Re: # 10

B Babu you raise some constructively healthy issues. You asked me to name you “one” top UK-based technology firm. I will push the envelope much further and mention “entire” British industries, namely biotech and pharma, which have technology as their handmaiden and are fusing cutting-edge science to revolutionize the health of humanity at the threshold of the 21st century.

Babu, a much-discussed symbol of the UK`s entrepreneurial renaissance is the so-called “Cambridge Phenomenon” - a marriage of science and technology based enterprises mushroomed in and around Cambridge University. This cluster aka the ``Cambridge Science Park`` is blessed with razor-edge information technology, both hardware and software, and several of the new firms enjoy close links to leading universities; A case in point is Herman Hauser, championing Acorn Computers, a personal computer manufacturer, who innovatively worked at the Cavendish laboratory, and is recognized amongst friends and foes as a doyen of his trade.

British universities and government research laboratories have a stupendous track-record in the sciences on which biotechnology is based. This is crucial because in biotechnology, to a greater extent than in semiconductors or electronics, commercial success depends on an intimate continuum between corporate-based research, due-dilligence and science.

Second, biotechnology is inextricably linked to pharmaceuticals, and in the latter, the UK is comfortably nestled amongst the creme de la creme.

Well perched on an entrepreneurial apex.

Thanks in part to a favorable regulatory regime which lubricates the wheels for incentives and innovative research, there are strong nationally-owned companies such as AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline as well as an overabundance of foreign outfits which have located research and production facilities in the UK.

Skills have been spruced-up over many years by the pharmaceutical industry - for example, in clinical testing, highly relevant to humanity`s future. The big pharmaceutical companies are vital customers and partners for biotechnology firms, nourishing and feeding off each other.

The success of this and other Cambridge firms engagingly sees “Silicon Fen” not as a rival to Silicon Valley, but a complement, where cross-Atlantic information-sharing has been second to none .

As made clear earlier to Cayenne, I do not for a nano-second deny American leadership in technology/electronics which has its nucleus in the sheer size of the domestic consumer market, extensive White House support emboldened through the Pentagon`s defence programme, a sector you were nippy to pin-point.

US technology is oxygenized by intense internal competition, the anti-monopoly laws on operating systems are instructive, and a set of supportive institutions which include a robust science base, easy interchange of personnel between the IV League and Wall Street, and a gargantuan, albeit hobbled, venture capital industry.

Babu what you do renege to observe is that the UK has witnessed a biotechnology/pharmaceutical renaissance, acknowledged by leading technologists, scientists and analysts, which may not be as deep-seated as in the US , but is profound nonetheless.

Before dismissing the US` Trans-Atlantic rival/partner do acquiesce to these milestones.

# 17

It`s satisfying to see Theodore Dalrymple, who gave every indication of being irredeemably disadvantaged in terms of intelligence, figuring things out, albeit slowly.


Theo

Hindus and Sikhs are the allies of Europe. They bring a wealth of experience that Europe does not have.

Re: # 11

Theo Van Gogh,

You insolently pick on an entire Pakistani community residing in Birmingham based on a few mischievous misfits being convicted of electoral fraud and criminal activity regarding postal ballots. Clearly these misfits deserve sanctions.

However don’t simplistically over-egg the pudding by branding the “entire community” in Birmingham as “fraudsters”. Your labels and prejudices are all too transparent and do not hold sway amongst this audience.

Seems you crave the attention, so bask in your misplaced wisdom and cosmetic glory.

The crimson sun will set on its ubiquitous inequity.

Re: # 16

Arjun you observe

``Pakis lag behind hindus and sikhs in every field and your main issue is the war in Iraq and the Kashmir ``cause``

Do I detect a ``tinge of Hindutva agenda against Muslims`` ?

Re: # 8

Labyrinth

Your “Brummien” point of view hits the nail on the head with meticulous precision. Labour, in Birmingham and elsewhere, takes a leaner slant on immigration and Visa processing, therefore remains a vote-winner amongst ethnic minorities. As for Galloway, he took a bold stance and his actions righteously earn him approbation amongst voters throughout the UK and the Commonwealth.

Only one point puzzles me in your reasoning, Salma Yaqoob`s laudable anti-war stance is exemplary, how is she pinching you by becoming a lady which you despicably hate ? Is it because of her bold stand ?

Or the truth resonating in her vocal chords ?

Labyrinth, without seeking to flog a dead-horse, was it truly necessary to unilaterally invade Iraq without appropriate UN sanctions? Surely unilateralism is a malady that plagues our society: a dire infringement for social development?

Weapons of mass destruction, as if by a Houdini-magic wand vanished into thin air? They were never found. Labyrinth a stark reality is that the weapons didn`t exist and were largely (if not totally) destroyed during the 1991 Gulf War.

We need gutsy spokeswomen like Salma Yaqoob to neutralize a male-laden neo-imperialist political landscape fraught with bravado.

Dear Ozer Khalid

``Dooms-day sooth-sayers or not, gleaming triumphal bravura is not an order du jour. A ``Damoclean`` sword hangs over the don Dionysius of Downing Street. The resulting years to come will reveal to all and sundry if Blair is up for the Herculean feat``

Wow ! You write so cavalierly ! Have you studied classics or Greek mythology ?

Come what may, you are a gifted writer and an acute observer of international relations and finance. And by the looks of your i-log profile quite handsome and easy-on-the-eyes as well !! You poetically answer most questions posed by your captive audience.

I have one question to all/any readers: do you feel Mr Blair will sit his full-tenure or will the throne prematurely be passed onto Gordon Brown ? If so what will be the ramifications in terms of policy shifts ? Especially for the ``Desi`` community living in the UK ?

Ozer

You write very eloquently. Good to finally evidence in-depth socio-political commentary by a multi-cultural fella. I have been privileged to come across some of your moving pieces on poetry and Islamic Banking on the Internet and Google.

You are quite romantic and charismatic at heart. From your interacts I see you adore Khalil Gibran and Rumi.

Question to Ozer or any expert on politics: is there any real difference between labour and the tories ? do they not stand and represent similar values ? and if the liberal democrats have gained ground will british politics not gleefully be gridlocked into italian-style coalitions ? a ceaseless fragmentation of non-ending fox-hunting debates ?

Ozer

Great to see you on Chowk babez ! I loved reading ``Dusk``. When are you coming to visit in Houston ? Loaaads to tell ya.....

Congratulations on winning the essay at the Pak High Commission in London ! I neva hear it through the man himself......Which clubs are u promoting these days ? I misss uuuu....

On your article, do you feel Blair will fulfill his pledges ? Apart from Gordon Brown, what are the other obstacles is he likely to face ? Surely the vacuous rhetoric by the Tories will prove no hindrance ?

ozer

Deal with the substance of my posts, dont pontificate so pompously with phrases like `The crimson sun will set on its ubiquitous inequity.`

Thats hilarious. What does it mean? Please explain. What crimson sun? What ubiquitous inequity? What the hell are you talking about?

[[However don’t simplistically over-egg the pudding by branding the “entire community” in Birmingham as “fraudsters”. Your labels and prejudices are all too transparent and do not hold sway amongst this audience]]

Dont put quotation marks around phrases I dont use implying my assent to those sentiments. That is fraudulent. I stand by my words, that we are witnessing the growth of Muslim communalist and sectarian politics in Britain. The level of electoral fraud carried out by Pakistani politicians across the country has been massive and unprecedented and has led to widescale criminal prosecution and imprisonment. No other community has been involved in this, not Afro-Caribbeans, Jews, Hindus or Sikhs. Why?

Re: # 4

Ozer K, my brother, 3.2% of 59.6 million ain`t still a whole lot of people.Russia celebrates it`s 60 years v-Day celebrations as i type.Fifty world leaders invited, Bush, Hu-Jintao,Chirac, my man Dr.Manmohan who`s having a meeting with both Putin and Bush and other worthies, but no Blair and no Mushaaraf.You see the world doesn`t invite hired hands.Only lawfully elected leaders.Britain is `a second rate power` as an indian politician so delicately put it, when QE II came calling on New Delhi a few years ago.I wish all south asians well, wherever they may choose to live or were born in.My issue is with Britain`s status in the world and at present it is way down the pecking order.It may change and i certainly wish them well.

To give you an idea of where Britain is economically:

1 World $ 55,500,000,000,000 2004 est.
2 United States $ 11,750,000,000,000 2004 est.
3 European Union $ 11,650,000,000,000 2004 est.
4 China $ 7,262,000,000,000 2004 est.
5 Japan $ 3,745,000,000,000 2004 est.
6 India $ 3,319,000,000,000 2004 est.
7 Germany $ 2,362,000,000,000 2004 est.
8 United Kingdom $ 1,782,000,000,000 2004 est

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2001rank.html

Hey, we indians might even bail out the british in a few years, say what??.Say hello to Lakshmi Mittal for me won`t ya??.Cheers.

Re 15: One thing further on this point of the degeneration of multi-culturalism and general tolerance....is the sad way that so many divisions have popped up in the British Asian community in the UK. Up to even 15 years ago..British Indians..Pakistanis...few Banglas that were there...were all simply British Asians....then came the breakdown into various national groupings....and the last 5-6 years especially has seen the rise of breaking down on religious lines...British hindus...sikhs...muslims..etc etc...as someone else noted...British Asians still only form a tiny minority of the overall population.(3.4%)....and historically the community has ...still does and will continue to face common problems such as racism in the jobs and housing markets...immigration issues...acceptance of cultures other than the indigenous...this divisive breakdown into more and more small communities does reek of Colonialism`s divide and rule..but also yet again the fundamental idiocy of certain segments of the British Asian populace...to be fair..particularly but exclusively in the Muslim community. On the whole..inspite of various difficulties..the British Asian community has prospered as whole over the last 40 years....and its no coincidence that religious and communal issues being a no-no among the community..helped this objective. As Indians and Pakistanis have proved over and over again..that when they have left behind their communal/religious agendas back home and left to work as expatriates not only have they prospered as respective communities..but they have lived not only in peace but in fraternity. The rise of this poisonous communal and religious politics in Britain is only going to work against ALL British Asians...especially as the mainstream Conservatives have tapped into inner xenophobia of the goray with their anti-immigration stance..and the likes of the BNP grow on hatred of alll coloureds...Indian..Bengali...hindu....sikh...muslim.....
it doesnt matter...as any british asian would know.all are just ``bloody pakis`` to them..

Cayenne,

Remove China and India from this list and you might have a point. Remember, the CIA does its GDP calculation on a PPP basis; i.e., it`s not a ``real`` calculation but a notional calculation based on pricing parity.

World Bank calculations, somewhat more accurate and smoothing out exchange rate and price fluctuations, put the UK at (for 2003 Gross National Income) $1.68 trillion, India $0.57 trillion and China at $1.4 trillion. So while China probably will surpass the UK pretty soon, India has a loooooong way to go!

Sorry to burst your bubble but India isn`t going to ``bail out`` the UK any time soon.

Regards.

Re 15: One thing further on this point of the degeneration of multi-culturalism and general tolerance....is the sad way that so many divisions have popped up in the British Asian community in the UK. Up to even 15 years ago..British Indians..Pakistanis...few Banglas that were there...were all simply British Asians....then came the breakdown into various national groupings....and the last 5-6 years especially has seen the rise of breaking down on religious lines...British hindus...sikhs...muslims..etc etc...as someone else noted...British Asians still only form a tiny minority of the overall population.(3.4%)....and historically the community has ...still does and will continue to face common problems such as racism in the jobs and housing markets...immigration issues...acceptance of cultures other than the indigenous...this divisive breakdown into more and more small communities does reek of Colonialism`s divide and rule..but also yet again the fundamental idiocy of certain segments of the British Asian populace...to be fair..particularly but NOT exclusively in the Muslim community. On the whole..inspite of various difficulties..the British Asian community has prospered as whole over the last 40 years....and its no coincidence that religious and communal issues being a no-no among the community..helped this objective. As Indians and Pakistanis have proved over and over again..that when they have left behind their communal/religious agendas back home and left to work as expatriates not only have they prospered as respective communities..but they have lived not only in peace but in fraternity. The rise of this poisonous communal and religious politics in Britain is only going to work against ALL British Asians...especially as the mainstream Conservatives have tapped into inner xenophobia of the goray with their anti-immigration stance..and the likes of the BNP grow on hatred of alll coloureds...Indian..Bengali...hindu....sikh...muslim.....
it doesnt matter...as any british asian would know.all are just ``bloody pakis`` to them..
[Reply to interact #29]

Re: # 22

A tinge? you obviously haven`t been on Chowk too long!

Some interesting trends in this election that I noted: The BNP has made significant inroads into the South surprisingly East London was where they did best..

Respect split the Anti Blair vote In Brummie land and other areas..which saved Labour in at least 6 or 7 seats..